Re: Question about transitivity/intransitivity

>A transitive verb is one which can take a direct object, e.g. "eat". An
>intransitive verb is one which cannot, e.g. "go". So what if <one> which
>*can* take a direct object is used *without* one? E.g. you can say "I am
>eating an apple", which is obviously transitive, because the direct object
>is there. But what about something like "What are you doing?"/ "I am
>eating."  Are those verbs still transitive? Or have they become
>intransitive?
>
I think of:
1. "transitive" as applying to actions/states which a subject (agent?)
inflicts on an object whether or not the object is stated. "I am eating
<something>"
2. "intrasitive" as applying to actions/states are inflicted on the subject.
"I go."

This created some issues for me in Bes Dis'z, as I elected to make all
adjectives verb and all root verbs transitive. So not only can
- I build a house
- sipóy tam
- [sipoj_H tam]

but  also
- I grey the house
- silhék tam’n
- [siKek_H tam@n]

Thus, I ended up using a structure for intransitivity and passivity:

- A house is built
- rapóy tam
- [4apoj_H tam]

and
- The house is grey
- ralhék tam’n
- [4aKek_H tam@n]

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